Date: Monday 27 August
Distance covered to Rome: 467.1/1027km
Terrain: More up up up the Apennines. (ascent = 678m)
Overnight: Ostello della Cisa, €10
Feeling: surprisingly good!
Today had been described in various books and guides as the most difficult section of the whole Italian section of the Via Francigena. That is not a particularly attractive description, especially to someone who has to walk it! As it turned out, it wasn’t as hard as yesterday. Bonus!
However, it was no cake walk and there were some very steep sections, but they were short and sharp, and then they would plateau for a bit before another up. Again the views were stunning today. More mountains than I could count, more valleys with picturesque villages all tolling their bells.
The good news is that a good portion of the path was on beautiful forest paths and the trees provided lovely shade. The last couple of days have been slightly cooler, which I am loving, and I hope it is a sign of things to come. Ever the optimist!
I can’t remember if I have chatted about the Via Francigena app I am using on my phone. I am now an app convert and this one is a cracker. I love to see the little red dot (me) scurrying along the designated path, but I learned today that it is not perfect! I came to a point in the path where it split – one higher and one lower. My logic said to take the higher one as we were climbing, but my app mate said the lower one was the go. Off I happily trundled down hill, down, down and into a farmer’s paddock, frightening a gorgeous doe in the process, until the path became decidedly un-path-like. My red dot was now officially in the middle of nowhere and it was sensible to turn around and slog back up the hill again! Sure enough, the higher path was the correct one and the waymarking signs appeared again within about 100m. So, I have decided that to get from A to B in the shortest possible time, I must use a combination of the app, the signs and a healthy dose of common sense!
You learn something every day and it’s a dull day when you don’t!
Tip of the day: don’t believe everything the guide books tell you and always add 2km to their estimated distance.
Life...one big adventure 
Aah Mel – I continue to be in awe of your adventuring! The photos are beautiful, even (especially?) the hazy ones, and as always you capture the spirit of the countryside. I hope your next well-earned rest day isn’t too far away…. 😀
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You nailed it. I am hanging out for my next rest day, but unfortunately not until Sunday. 3 x 33km days before then! I will have earned it! X
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Beautiful scenery Mel. Glad you caught up with Gerard. It must have been nice for the company. Not sure about the app!!!!!! Follow your nose girlfriend!
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Have left Gerard behind now as he is doing shorter days, but have found a young Italian girl and it is nice to share the dinner table with her.
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Oh wow – so many long days in a row. You’re super fit now though. Are there any other pilgrims walking at the same pace as you?
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Yes, there are plenty of big days. Not sure about being super fit because I am exhausted at the end of each day, but the waistline is definitely trimming down!
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Sorry, no everyone seems to be walking at different paces. I have left Gerard behind and tonight there are two French women and one Italian, and I haven’t seen them before. Sometimes I am the only person in the whole ostello. It is lovely to not have to fight for a bed!
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We’ve just done a road trip on unknown roads and downloaded an app before we’ve left … and we did take a wrong turn on the app’s instruction (although both of us had the feeling we’re not on the right path). My husband is a stern believer of following your instinct – so, it is a bit of both I suppose.
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Yep, always balance the theoretical with the instinctual!
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